Tuning of percussion instruments

Claim 2

A tuning mechanism for a percussion-type instrument having a tunable head adjacent a shell means comprising: a. an aperture in said shell means; said aperture having a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls of said shell means; b. insert means having its central axis substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of said aperture, being conformingly fitted within said aperture and effecting frictional engagement with the walls thereof that is sufficient to retain said insert means in a set position without requiring threaded connection or ratchet means, said insert means including: i. means for effecting rotation thereof; and ii. an engaging means that is spaced from the center of said insert means for engaging a tensioning means at a point spaced from said center of said insert means for effecting a change in tension of a tensioning means; and c. tensioning means engaging said tunable head and said engaging means of said insert means for adjusting tautness of said tunable head in response to rotaTion of said insert means in said aperture; the desired tension being retained by frictional engagement of the material of said insert means with the walls of said aperture in said shell means.

Claim 3

The tuning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said insert means has an insert portion that is primarily cylindrical and said aperture is primarily cylindrical.

Claim 4

The tuning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said insert means has an insert portion of a diameter normally slightly larger than the diameter of said aperture in said shell means, is compressively fitted within said aperture, and is constructed of material having a modulus of compressibility less than the modulus of compressibility of said shell means.

Claim 5

The tuning mechanism of claim 3 wherein said material is an inert thermoplastic material.

Claim 6

The tuning mechanism of claim 4 wherein said material is either nylon, Teflon, polypropylene, neoprene, densified polyethylene or polystyrene.

Claim 7

The tuning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said means for effecting rotation comprises a diametral slot for receiving a readily available means for inducing torque.

Claim 8

The tuning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said means for effecting rotation comprises a shoulder protruding from said insert means whereby said insert means can be rotated by hand without additional means.

Claim 9

The tuning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said engaging means comprises an engaging aperture in said insert means; said engaging aperture having an axis that is substantially parallel with the axis of said aperture in said shell means; and said tensioning means has a terminal means inserted within said engaging aperture in said insert means.

Claim 10

The tuning mechanism of claim 8 wherein said engaging aperture in said insert means has sloped sidewalls forming a frustoconical section forming an acute angle with said shell means exterior and said terminal means forms an acute angle with said shell means for retention within said insert means.

Claim 11

The tuning mechanism of claim 8 wherein said engaging aperture in said insert means is cylindrical and said terminal means has threadlike ridges for retention therewithin.

Claim 12

The tuning mechanism of claim 8 wherein said insert means contains a plurality of engaging apertures.

Claim 13

The tuning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said insert means includes an exteriorly protruding peg means outside said shell means, said tensioning means comprises an elongated flexible member, and said tensioning means is operatively connected with said peg means to have a greater or lesser portion of its length wrapped around said peg means in response to rotation of said peg means.

Claim 14

The tuning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said insert means has an insert portion that is primarily cylindrical and said aperture comprises an inner cylindrical portion and an outer cylindrical portion slightly smaller in diameter than said inner cylindrical portion and joined by a frustoconical section, said inner cylindrical portion being small enough to frictionally engage said cylindrical insert portion.

Claim 15

The tuning mechanism of claim 14 wherein said aperture has a third cylindrical portion outside said outer cylindrical portion for accommodating expansion of said insert portion to minimize lateral movement of said insert means in both directions in said aperture.

Claim 16

A tunable percussion instrument comprising: a. a shell means for effecting resonance; b. a tunable head adjacent said shell means; c. a plurality of apertures in said shell means; said apertures each having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls of said shell means; d. a plurality of insert means inserted within respective apertures in said shell means and effecting frictional engagement with the walls thereof that is sufficient to retain said insert means in a set position without requiring threaded connection or ratchet means, said insert means having respective means for effecting rotation thereof and respective engaging means tHat are spaced from the centers of said insert means for engaging respective tensioning means at respective points spaced from said centers of said insert means for effecting a change in tension of a tensioning means when said insert means is rotated; said insert means having their central axes substantially coincident with the respective axes of said apertures in said shell means; and e. tensioning means engaging said tunable head and said engaging means of said insert means for altering the tautness of said tunable head in response to rotation of said insert means, said tautness being retained by frictional engagement of the material of said insert means with the walls of said apertures in said shell means.

Claim 17

A tunable percussion instrument comprising: a. a shell means for effecting resonance; b. a tunable head adjacent said shell means; c. a plurality of apertures in said shell means; said apertures each having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls of said shell means; d. a plurality of insert means inserted within respective apertures in said shell means and effecting frictional engagement with the walls thereof that is sufficient to retain said insert means in a set position without requiring threaded connection or ratchet means, said insert means having respective means for effecting rotation thereof and respective engaging means tHat are spaced from the centers of said insert means for engaging respective tensioning means at respective points spaced from said centers of said insert means for effecting a change in tension of a tensioning means when said insert means is rotated; said insert means having their central axes substantially coincident with the respective axes of said apertures in said shell means; and e. tensioning means engaging said tunable head and said engaging means of said insert means for altering the tautness of said tunable head in response to rotation of said insert means, said tautness being retained by frictional engagement of the material of said insert means with the walls of said apertures in said shell means.

Claim 18

The percussion instrument of claim 15 wherein said engaging means has a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel with respective said apertures in said shell means and said insert means and is eccentrically spaced from the center of said insert means for changing the distance therefrom to the top of said shell means adjacent said tunable head and wherein said tensioning means has a constant length; and engages said engaging means at one end and said tunable head at the other.

Claim 19

The percussion instrument of claim 15 wherein said tunable head comprises a membrane held between two ring means, said ring means fitting concentrically around said shell means and wherein each said tensioning means comprises a member having an upper terminal portion for slipping over the external ring means, whereby tension may be induced by said tensioning means in a concentrated point and spread substantially uniformly over said tunable head for effecting a substantially uniform adjustment of tautness.

Claim 20

The instrument of claim 17 wherein said percussion-type instrument is a tambourine.

Claim 21

The instrument of claim 17 wherein said percussion type instrument is a drum.

Claim 22

The percussion instrument of claim 15 wherein said insert means includes an exteriorly protruding peg means outside said shell means, said tensioning means comprises an elongated flexible member, and said tensioning means is operatively connected with said peg means to have a greater or lesser portion of its length wrapped around said peg means in response to rotation of said peg means.